"Early to bed, early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy & wise." said Ben Franklin but does this really apply to teenagers? This is not always accurate in a teenagers case. Teens have a very tough time to go to bed early, which makes it hard to wake up early. They also end up sleep-deprived when waking up so early. Multiple things are affected by lack of sleep.. especially in teenagers. Lack of sleep can affect your brain, mood, education and may even cause you to be on unnecessary or needed meds.
Reorganize Your Brain And Re-energize Yourself
Its is a proven fact that teens have what people like to call an internal clock. Studies show that the average teen will have a hard time falling asleep before around 11pm. When you are falling asleep that late you shouldn'twake up till around 8:30 but most schools are starting at around that time. Your brain needs about 9.5 hours of sleep to prepare for the next day. When you don't get the recommended amount of sleep you are limiting what you can do the next day. But sometimes you cant help the lack of sleep your getting because your brain has to release the melatonin to make you tired, but in teens this hormone usually isn't released till later at night.
Your Education Depends On It
With most high/middle schools starting at around 8:00am students arenot being able to function properly or learn properly through the day. There are some schools that have decided to push back start time to nine or later. The results to this have been almost nothing but accurate. The students from these types of schools have an average that is higher then most the earlier starting schools. Students say they are having an easier time staying awake in class, paying attention and their moods have became more positive. Starting class later should be giving the teens internal clock the proper time it needs. The brain has been more re-energized and ready for the school day in these instances.
Pills? How about Sleep instead?
Anti-depressants. Most of us know what these are. But for those who don't they are a pill that one inten people ages twelve and up take at least once to help with their depression (a pill to make them happier). Lack of sleep can have allot do with why so many people end up on anti-depressants. But anti-depressants are not the only medication that is being prescribed to sleep-deprived teens and people in general. Some doctors have been prescribing medications that shouldn't be used in order to try and treat the teens with sleep issues. Sleep aids are prescribed very regularly, but in most cases they aren't actually needed. The internal clock is keeping teens awake when their parents think they are depressed or need to be on medication when really all they need is sleep. No matter what they do nothing works to get their teens to sleep so they resort to pills when really your brain just really hasn't released the hormone.
Do you smile enough?
When you are having issues with lack of sleep you have higher emotional instability rates. If you don't get enough sleep your brain can't function properly so you react differently to things compared to how you usually would. You over react and get anxiety over little issues that usually wouldn't matter to you as much. People who are in need of sleep tend to have higher depression rates and seriously just aren't as happy as they should be! When you are tired you get upset and mad at multiple things, even the slightest little thing can set you off and no one wants that. Some people though seem like are constantly happy when they are tired but don't let this fool you their mood will go through mood swings just like any other tired teen. They only seem so happy because their brain is not functioning right and the lack of sleep will be affecting them in other ways.
Remember...
So now that you are more informed on why sleep is so important to you you should value your time of sleep. Just remember don't think it is your fault if you can't fall asleep till later at night your brain just isn't ready yet. Sleep is important and if you are sleeping better you will be helping yourself in so many ways, your education, mood and just your brain in general.
Does lack of sleep effect you?
"Early to bed, early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy & wise." said Ben Franklin but does this really apply to teenagers? This is not always accurate in a teenagers case. Teens have a very tough time to go to bed early, which makes it hard to wake up early. They also end up sleep-deprived when waking up so early. Multiple things are affected by lack of sleep.. especially in teenagers. Lack of sleep can affect your brain, mood, education and may even cause you to be on unnecessary or needed meds.
Reorganize Your Brain And Re-energize Yourself
Its is a proven fact that teens have what people like to call an internal clock. Studies show that the average teen will have a hard time falling asleep before around 11pm. When you are falling asleep that late youshouldn't wake up till around 8:30 but most schools are starting at around that time. Your brain needs about 9.5 hours of sleep to prepare for the next day. When you don't get the recommended amount of sleep you are limiting what you can do the next day. But sometimes you cant help the lack of sleep your getting because your brain has to release the melatonin to make you tired, but in teens this hormone usually isn't released till later at night.
Your Education Depends On It
With most high/middle schools starting at around 8:00am students arePills? How about Sleep instead?
Anti-depressants. Most of us know what these are. But for those who don't they are a pill that one inLack of sleep can have allot do with why so many people end up on anti-depressants. But anti-depressants are not the only medication that is being prescribed to sleep-deprived teens and people in general. Some doctors have been prescribing medications that shouldn't be used in order to try and treat the teens with sleep issues. Sleep aids are prescribed very regularly, but in most cases they aren't actually needed. The internal clock is keeping teens awake when their parents think they are depressed or need to be on medication when really all they need is sleep. No matter what they do nothing works to get their teens to sleep so they resort to pills when really your brain just really hasn't released the hormone.
Do you smile enough?
When you are having issues with lack of sleep you have higher emotional instability rates. If you don't get enough sleep your brain can't function properly so you react differently to things compared to how you usually would. You over react and get anxiety over little issues thatusually wouldn't matter to you as much. People who are in need of sleep tend to have higher depression rates and seriously just aren't as happy as they should be! When you are tired you get upset and mad at multiple things, even the slightest little thing can set you off and no one wants that. Some people though seem like are constantly happy when they are tired but don't let this fool you their mood will go through mood swings just like any other tired teen. They only seem so happy because their brain is not functioning right and the lack of sleep will be affecting them in other ways.
Remember...
So now that you are more informed on why sleep is so important to you you should value your time of sleep. Just remember don't think it is your fault if you can't fall asleep till later at night your brain just isn't ready yet. Sleep is important and if you are sleeping better you will be helping yourself in so many ways, your education, mood and just your brain in general.